Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Beal, Blunt, Collingham and Crofts.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED: The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

Those declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

There was none.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair proposes to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There was none.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.  

Councillors Collop, Heneghan, Hodson, Long and Rose were present under Standing Order 34 for RD82: Local Plan.

If any.

There was none.

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All Members had been invited to the meeting for this item.

The Planning Policy Manager and the Local Plan Team provided a presentation on the Local Plan and presented the Cabinet report which sought adoption of the Local Plan by the Council.  A copy of the presentation is attached.

The Chair thanked the Planning Policy Manager and the Local Plan Team for the report and thanked all those involved in the process.  The Chair invited questions and comments from Members, as summarised below.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Licensing, Councillor Moriarty thanked all those involved in creation of the plan and highlighted that the plan had been found sound, met all the requirements, had been through examination and could now be formally adopted.

Councillor Lintern asked what the impact of Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation would be and it was explained that a key examination test was the Duty to Co-operate with neighbouring authorities and Statutory Consultees.  Government had indicated that they did not want plans to stop and were reviewing the plan making system to speed up processes, including the possibility of the ambition to create Local Plans within two and a half years.

Councillor Ratcliffe commented that it was good that the plan covered the whole of the Borough and had allocated employment land in Downham Market.

Councillor Rose addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34 and asked if the Custom and Self Build Task Group would start meeting again.  Officers provided an overview of the work that had been carried out, including winning a national award and the benefits of Custom and Self Build.

In response to a question from Councillor Lintern, it was confirmed that Custom and Self Build homes were exempt from the Community Infrastructure Levy and Biodiversity Net Gain.  This was because the Government wanted to see growth in this area to contribute to the housing crisis.

Councillor Colwell commented that he was pleased to see policies relating to saving disused railway lines, the natural landscape and flood risk.  He referred to Houses of Multiple Occupancy and Article 4 directions and officers confirmed that Council could consider Article 4 Directions if issues arose in the future.

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet, as summarised below.

CABINET RECOMMENDATIONS:

To be recommended to Full Council:

1.     To note the outcome of the Inspectors report into the Examination of the Local Plan (Appendices 1 and 2 to this report).

2.     That the Council adopts the Local Plan as per the Inspectors Report, 21 February 2025, (appendix 1 to this report), as well as the accompanying Policies Map (contained within appendix 3).

3.     That Council notes that all policies of the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Core Strategy (2011) and the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (2016)(the current Local Plan, for the period 2001-2026) will be superseded by the new Local Plan, upon adoption.

4.     That the  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD82:

To receive a presentation from officers on the above.

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Officers presented the update to the Panel.  A copy of the presentation is attached.  The Panel were reminded that this was a high level overview, and being presented to the Panel early for their input into the Strategy.  The Strategy would come back to the Panel for consideration in due course.

The Assistant Director highlighted that the Corporate Performance Panel had flagged this as part of their Performance Monitoring and explained that there was a considerable amount of work involved, hence the delay.

The Chair thanked officers for the presentation and for bringing proposal early to the Panel so that they could help shape Strategy.  The Chair invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Colwell commented that priority should be given to increasing EV charging provision and to improving and expanding the cycle path network.

The Chair commented that consideration needed to be given to EV if Multi Storey Car Parks were being considered as they were heavier than standard vehicles.

Councillor Bubb commented that parking bays needed to be widened.

Councillor Osborne asked that consideration be given to what the ambition of the town centre was and commented he was pleased to see solar panels being considered, especially with the increase in EVs.

Councillor Lintern asked that consideration be given to the elderly population and those that needed easy close access to facilities.

Councillor Long addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34 and commented that people should have the right to choose their method of transport.  Offers needed to be attractive as most people favoured town centre parking as it was convenient.  He queried the increase in EV charging provision as most people would charge their vehicles at home where it was cheaper.

Councillor Colwell commented that not all users had the ability to charge EV’s at home, so provision was important.  He commented that multi storey car parks should be explored on existing surface car parks.  Councillor Colwell also stated that there shouldn’t be car parking on the Tuesday Market Place as it was a historic square.

Councillor Lintern referred to car parking charges and commented that it was difficult to compare to other areas as it was all about the offer available and income streams of users.

Councillor Ratcliffe commented that she was against adding more surface car parks in the town.  She commented that interactive signage for users should be increased so that the best use of existing spaces could be made.  She suggested that additional provision could be used for events rather than a permanent increase in capacity.

The Chair commented that the information available on the website could be improved.

Councillor Long addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34 and commented that consideration should be given to the provision of disabled car parking bays and the charges imposed on blue badge holders and commented that in some areas they could park for free.

In response to a question  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD83:

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme and Cabinet Forward Decision List was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Regeneration & Development Panel is scheduled to take place on 1^st April 2025 at 6.00pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel was scheduled to take place on 1^st April 2025 at 6.00pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 or 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

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RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 to Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Panel discussed potential locations to accommodate car parking, active travel hubs and park and ride provision.